The ceremony was held as part of Allied Health Professions Day celebrations.

Across our District, 1,500 allied health professionals support our patients with unique and specialist expertise.    

Allied health clinicians and assistants are a dynamic, enthusiastic and diverse group of health professionals working in collaboration with colleagues and patients in our hospitals, outpatient clinics and community services to prevent and minimise disability and restore or optimise function.  

Our Disitrict marked Allied Health Professions Day on October 14 with a special event and announcement of the Excellence in Allied Health Awards and Allied Health Research seeding grants recipients.   

“Our allied health professionals are an incredibly diverse, passionate and uniquely skilled group and play an integral role in supporting our patients and in our multidisciplinary team-based care,” Sarah Whitney, Director, Allied Health said.   

“The Excellence in Allied Health Awards are given annually to recognise our collective achievements and colleagues who have gone above and beyond in their work.  

“I am enormously proud of our allied health professionals for their dedication to their patients, and the support we show to one another.”  

 

Excellence in Allied Health Awards 2023: 

Early Career Allied Health Professional of the Year finalists  

Sophia Littler, Neurospychologist, Disability Support Unit, Community Health   
Kate Ryan, Physiotherapist, Concord Hospital   

Sarah Tan, Occupational Therapist, Canterbury Hospital   

Lauren French, Dietitian, Concord Hospital   

Zoe Bowers, Speech Pathologist, Child and Family Health Services, Community Health  

Thomas Nicholl, Clinical Psychologist, Child and Family Health Services, Community Health  

Anthea Staines, Clinical Psychologist, Child and Family Health Services, Community Health   

Winner – Zoe Bowers, Speech Pathologist, Child and Family Health Services, Community Health   

  

Allied Health Researcher of the Year finalists  

Dr Sarah Taki, Senior Dietitian and Senior Research Officer, Health Promotion Service, Sydney Local Health District 

Associate Professor Sharon Carey, Nutrition and Dietetics, RPA Hospital  

Dr Miranda Say, Neuropsychologist, Concord Hospital   

Dr Nicola Clayton, Speech Pathology, Concord Hospital   

Winner – Associate Professor Sharon Carey, Nutrition and Dietetics, RPA Hospital  

   

Allied Health Assistant / Technician / Support Person of the Year finalists  

Georgios Andronis, Physiotherapy, Concord Hospital   

Dana Gabbett, Occupational Therapy, Balmain Hospital   

Winner – Georgios Andronis, Physiotherapy, Concord Hospital   

   

Allied Health Educator of the Year finalists  

Julianne Chong, Venous Thromboembolism/Anticoagulation Stewardship Pharmacist Concord and Canterbury hospitals  

Joana Azevedo, Social worker, Concord Hospital   

Liz Frig, Dietitian, Peter Beaumont Eating Disorders Unit, Mental Health Services  

Winner – Julianne Chong, Venous Thromboembolism/Anticoagulation Stewardship Pharmacist Concord and Canterbury hospitals 

 

Allied Health Leader of the Year finalists  

Naome Reid, A/Allied health Manager, Child and Family Health Services, Community Health    

Matthew Nutt, Team leader, Social Work, RPA Hospital  

Sarah Firman, Head of Department Social Work, Concord Hospital   

Amanda Iverach, Head of Department Occupational Therapy, Balmain Hospital   

Joshua Yeung, Acting Head of Department Occupational Therapy, Concord Hospital   

Michael Berbari, Director Occupational Therapy, Sydney Local Health District   

Kathy Kouretas, Team Leader Physiotherapy, Child and Family Health Services, Community Health   

Anabelle Perry, Deputy Head of Department, Social Work, RPA Hospital   

Winner – Amanda Iverach, Head of Department Occupational Therapy, Balmain Hospital  

  

Allied Health Professional of the Year finalists  

Matthew Modini, Clinical Psychologist, Mental Health Services   

Helen Tran, Social worker, Disability Support Unit, Community health   

Anne Tunks, Psychologist, Aged Health   

Vincent Cram, Clinical Psychologist, RPA Virtual Hospital   

Michael Wai, Clinical Psychologist, RPA Virtual Hospital   

Kate Wark, Speech Pathologist, RPA Hospital 

Kiah Witney-Cochrane, Nutrition and Dietetics, RPA Hospital 

Gulliver Tompkins, Physiotherapy, Concord Hospital   

Priya Gnanakumaran, Physiotherapy, Concord Hospital   

Jessica Lane, Occupational Therapist, Balmain Hospital   

Kathryn Peacock, Occupational Therapist, Canterbury Hospital   

Catharina Dernee, Speech Pathologist, Child and Family Health Services, Community Health  

Brendan Myhill, Social Worker, Concord Hospital   

Louise Poole, Physiotherapist, Concord Hospital 

Winner – Matthew Modini, Clinical Psychologist, Mental Health Services 

   

Allied Health Team of the Year finalists  

Occupational Therapy Department, Balmain Hospital   

Hand Clinic team, RPA (Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy)  

Osteoarthritis Chronic Care Program Clinic, Concord Hospital   

Hyperacute Occupational Therapy team, Mental Health Services  

Speech Pathology team, Child and Family Health Services, Community Health   

Virtual Fracture Clinic team, RPA Virtual Hospital   

Virtual Rehabilitation Allied health team, RPA Virtual Hospital   

Allied Health team, John Beasley ward, Balmain Hospital   

Allied Health team, Parkinson’s Disease Clinic, Concord Hospital   

Winners – Hand Clinic team, RPA (Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy) and Allied Health team, Parkinson’s Disease Dlinic, Concord Hospital